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We just bought our C55 about a month ago. We started smelling gas last week. My wife was going to be in the Dallas/Ft Worth area this week, so I told her to go ahead and take it in. They quoted us just under $2k to perform the work. Mileage is just over 60k.
Print out the other thread and show your Service Advisor all the posts
You will have to play hard ball to gt a discount
Do you have a check engine light come on?
Was it a private sale?
Might make sense to buy a extended warranty and claim it later?
This is a big problem for not just the E55 cars, but the entire E Class range..... it is present on other MB Models such as the CLS.
I'm surprised this issue has made it to the C Class platform. Look up the other thread entitled "Our cars are bombs!" in the W211 AMG Forum.
If you guys do experience this issue, try these solutions in order to fix.
1. Check and replace gas cap. If that doesn't go away....
2. Remove rear seats, remove circular access panel behind the driver's seat and replace the green rubber seal surrounding fuel sender. Cost is $20 from dealer.....If that doesn't go away....
3. Pay for a smoke test to see where leak is coming from? I paid $80 for this test. This will determine your next course of action.....
4. Either replace fuel sending unit, the cost is around $ 400 from dealer and do it yourself or......
5. Replace entire gas tank which a lot of dealers are advocating. I have been quoted $1,600 to do this. This involves dropping the driveshaft and rear subframe.
There is no solid answer on why this happens in our cars nor is there a guaranteed fix by MBUSA. The only solution I have seen that prevents the problem from coming back is a spanking brand new gas tank. BTW i noticed that the check engine light was not mentioned in this post. It commonly comes on with this problem. You scan the code and it comes back as a Evap Error.
Ive been told by former MB Mechanics it's not worth repairing. Clear the code with a code scanner and just dont fill the car up all the way to full. I can go about 5/8th of a tank before it appears on the dashboard. If i go on a long trip, i bring a scanner with me to clear the code.
BTW this problem has come up even in the brand new W212 E Class.
so I just noticed the gas smell in the cabin yesterday after I filled up my c55. Does anyone know of a thread that shows how to remove the rear seat?
My service guy just fixed the fuel leak in my car. The seat has bracket covers across the front of the seat where it meets the carpet. Pry them up and remove the bolts, about 4. Seat should left up.
I had the same gas smell issue after I bought a used 2005 C55 w/97kmi.
Same puddle of fuel on top left fuel pressure regulator sending unit. I traced the leak to the glued seams between the round plastic parts. I could see fuel weep out. I think the glue had simply failed to adhere and seal. So I took a chance I got $5 worth of marine grade JB weld and globbed it all around the leak and any potential seams. I let is cure for 24hrs before driving again. It's been almost two years and now have 118kmi with absolutely no issues, I even check it periodically for leaks: none!
Please see pix!
Back driver side rear seat lifted to reveal visible gas puddle.
See the wetness.
Grey goo is the JB marine weld cured and has sealed the leak for $5!
Thank you for this! I just lifted my seat and low and behold there was the BIG puddle of fuel on the left side in the same place right below what I believe is the fuel sender. I'm trying to see how I can change out the gasket below the fuel sender instead of using JB marine weld. Does any one have a diagram and part# for the fuel sender gaskets?
There is no fuel sender gasket to replace only gaskets for the whole screw off unit, about $10 each one for each side. If you are leaking from the glued seals like I was then you have to replace the whole sender assembly or do a JB weld fix or come up with another solution.
You'll also need a special tool for unscrewing the retaining ring.
Thanks Moe55! I just came back from the stealership. They wanted me to change out the whole fuel sender unit which was about $600 or he suggested the regulator on top of the unit which has a built in gasket for about $116. I just added the JB weld like you did so hopefully it works. I'm thinking I'll probably need to change out the whole unit soon anyways as my car has 112k miles and supposedly theres a filter in there that's prob bad too. The cars in operable now as my conductor plate just went out too. Anyways I'll be changing out the engine and transmission mounts, the two front struts and bearings, the thermostat, voltage regulator and ANOTHER airmass sensor. Looks like I'll be busy so at least the JB weld will prevent the nausea from the fumes as I work on the rest. Thanks again for your help!
Hi guys, not sure if you have seen that this is a known problem with the E55 and CLS and Mercedes has agreed to recover the repair cost of replacing both units as both pumps tend to fail. I just had both fail on mine. probably failing for a while as one was terrible but anyways. I had it repaired but Mercedes didn't include the C55 into the warranty extension. If you didn't report your issue through MBUSA and make a report to the NHTSA I would encourage you to do so. You can always put in for a retroactive payment to cover the cost of repair. We should try to get all AMG vehicles included in this extension.
Thanks Cloin. I picked up a 2nd C55 and it too has the leaking fuel sending unit. Per your suggestion, I filed a complaint on the NHTSA site and referenced NHTSA Action Number : EA13003 on the E55 & CLS.
Thanks for being proactive with that cblue. I would pick up a 2nd in a heartbeat. I have really enjoyed this car but problems like this are inexcusable.
The past few months I've started to smell gasoline in the cabin. Coinciding with that I get the P0171 error code that comes and goes. P0171 System Too Lean (Bank 1) so I'm assuming there's a leak. I've looked over the Investigation under the NHTSA site for the 2003-2006 E55s and the symptoms are the same. NHTSA opened the investigation based on at least 20 reports so I think those of us with the C55s need to fill out a complaint IF you're having the symptoms discussed.
Submitted a complaint to NHTSA regarding the fuel smell. Did an inspection and found fuel collecting underneath the fuel sender access panel under the rear bench / driver's side.
Again, if you're experiencing the symptoms of fuel odor, gasoline leaks, or check engine light codes P0171 or P0453 Look into this and file a complaint with the NHTSA at NHTSA Vehicle Complaint
What I sent to NHTSA------
Very strong fuel odor inside cabin of vehicle while driving. odor is very strong around drivers rear wheel and from the outside once parked. Also noticed gasoline/fuel accumulation underneath vehicle around driver's side rear, on under body panels. Smell of fuel is very strong at times while driving but seems to dissipate when driving at a faster speed i.e. on highway over 45mph. Once I come to a stop or drive below 45mph the smell is pronounced probably because it isn't being blown away from the vehicle while driving. Does not change in correlation to fuel tank fill level.
Inspected fuel sender under access cap, underneath rear passenger bench driver's side on August 27th 2016. Found Fuel puddling in/around the exterior of fuel sending unit. Fuel sending part number A209-470-04-94 Cleaned out fuel puddle and reinspected access to panel to Fuel sender on September 3rd and found the fuel sender area has puddled with gasoline again.
Check Engine Light periodically turns on with code P0171 usually a month in between dating back to 2015. Coinciding with the fuel smell. Inspected gas cap/filler tube for leaks as precaution but found no leak.
Most of these symptoms are also similar to case with the 2003-2006 Mercedes Benz E55 AMG vehicles found under NHTSA Action Number: EA13003 regarding emissions recall for AMG models using high pressure fuel systems.
Thank you for posting your DIY! I had the same problem with my 2008 CLK63 Black Series and JB Marine did the trick! The dealership wanted $1400 to repair the sending unit issue. The repair cost me $9!!
05-30-2012, 04:57 PM
